A new <a href="http://inhabitat.com/california-desert-home-uses-passive-ventilation-techniques/" target="_blank">desert home</a> community has been planned for La Quinta, CA in the Mojave Desert, just outside of Palm Springs. The rich desert landscape covered in spiny <a href="http://inhabitat.com/taalman-koch-ithouse-joshua-tree/" target="_blank">Joshua Trees</a> will continue to be respected in this new discreet eco-community. Designed by <a href="http://p-ar.com/index.php?/projects/palm-springs-housing/" target="_blank">Platform for Architecture + Research</a>, 18 homes will be constructed to fit within the natural topology, carefully minimizing any environmental disturbances. Each home has been designed for the hot desert climate of the Mojave and includes solar shading, <a href="http://inhabitat.com/category/solar-power" target="_blank">solar power</a>, natural ventilation, xeriscaping and more.

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PAR Desert Houses

The 15-acre plot of land set aside for this desert home community has been subdivided into 18 plots, each almost 1 acre in size. In order to minimize disturbance to the desert landscape, roads and driveways have been sited discreetly and paved naturally.

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PAR Desert Houses

Footprints for the homes have been minimized while outdoor living spaces are maximized to take advantage of the moderate temperatures in the fall, winter and spring.

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PAR Desert Houses

Villas were oriented to take advantage of the prevailing northwesterly winds for natural ventilation.

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PAR Desert Houses

As the homes are located in a desert, extreme temperatures are of concern, as such the villas were designed to take advantage of the sun in the winter and hide beneath shade during the summer.

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PAR Desert Houses

The 15-acre plot is subdivided and planned to sit as naturally as possible within the landscape in an attempt to minimize disturbances, both physical and visual.

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PAR Desert Houses

Three different villa designs are organized around their own courtyard, and are in synch with the surrounding landscape.

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PAR Desert Houses

Each single family residence will feature solar roofs, solar passive design with appropriate shading and thermal massing, shaded glazing as well as xeriscaping around the homes.

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PAR Desert Houses

The floorplan of Villa Y.

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PAR Desert Houses

Here is the diagram for the Villa Y typology.

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PAR Desert Houses

A new desert home community has been planned for La Quinta, CA in the Mojave Desert, just outside of Palm Springs. The rich desert landscape covered in spiny Joshua Trees will continue to be respected in this new discreet eco-community. Designed by Platform for Architecture + Research, 18 homes will be constructed to fit within the natural topology, carefully minimizing any environmental disturbances. Each home has been designed for the hot desert climate of the Mojave and includes solar shading, solar power, natural ventilation, xeriscaping and more.